The tradition of giving an engagement ring: why buy it, how to choose and wear it correctly

Usually, a marriage proposal is accompanied by a gift desired by every girl - a diamond ring. This is an important event, after which a new stage of the relationship begins, so you need to be properly prepared for it. In the article we will tell you how engagement jewelry appeared, what they mean, what kind of engagement ring should be, how to choose it and wear it correctly.

When did the tradition of giving engagement rings begin?

The custom of giving an engagement ring appeared in the states of the Ancient World, but in those days it had nothing to do with romance. First, the heads of the families of the bride and groom agreed on the upcoming wedding, after which the engagement ceremony or betrothal followed.

The ceremony symbolized the decision made, and the groom's family, as a sign of securing the agreement reached, made a deposit, part of which was a ring for the bride. The decoration on the girl’s finger told other suitors for her hand and heart that she was busy. In medieval European states this custom was preserved.

Engagement Ring Meaning

When girls gained the right to make their own decisions about marriage, the engagement ring became a symbol of voluntary consent to a marriage proposal. On the part of the groom, such a gift is a sign of seriousness of intentions.

Pragmatic Americans and Europeans still believe that an engagement ring is a guarantee of the material well-being of the future spouse and his ability to support his family. According to established tradition, its cost should not be less than two months’ earnings.

Nowadays, engagement jewelry for a bride is a romantic attribute that signifies love, purity, fidelity and sincerity in a relationship. A marriage proposal can be made without a ring, but then a beautiful tradition will be broken. An engagement ring is every girl's cherished dream, so don't ruin it.

Wedding and engagement ring - what's the difference?

An engagement ring and a wedding ring have different meanings. If an engagement ring is a sign of a man’s intentions, which is presented before the wedding ceremony, and is intended only for a girl, then an engagement ring is a symbol of starting a family.

The man buys the engagement ring himself, as it should be a surprise for the bride. Future newlyweds can choose wedding rings together to exchange on their wedding day.

A classic wedding piece is a sleek gold ring. The design is convenient from a practical point of view, because it is usually worn constantly and rarely taken off. An engagement ring involves the presence of a central element - a precious stone.

Abroad

Which finger is the ring placed on when getting engaged abroad? In the countries of the European continent and in the USA, the ring is put on and worn on the left hand, on the same ring finger. Germany has its own characteristics. Which hand do the Germans put the engagement ring on? First on the left, and after the wedding ceremony they change to the right.

Interestingly, not all nations wear a ring on their hand . For example, among gypsies it is customary to wear this jewelry on a chain around the neck. And among Orthodox Jews, like the Germans, the symbol of engagement is placed on the left hand, and after the wedding it is transferred to the right, making room for the engagement party.

In our country, engagement is not obligatory , so everyone is free to choose the traditions that suit him best:

• The engagement ring can be removed only occasionally , for example, so as not to lose it in the pool;
• The loss of such a ring is considered a bad sign in all religions. If the newlyweds manage to lose their engagement ring, their marriage will likely be doomed as well;
• Constantly wearing jewelry is considered a good sign. For this reason, brides have always taken care of the relic. We tried not to allow the ring to come into contact with water for a long time, and kept a vigilant eye so as not to lose it;
• not to show off our decorations too much .

How to choose an engagement ring

Buying an engagement ring is a responsible event for the groom, since the jewelry should express his feelings and please the girl he loves. What kind of ring is given so that the bride agrees to a marriage proposal:

• Metal. The classic option is gold, which can be red, yellow or white. The decoration can also combine gold of different colors.

• Stone. A ring with a large diamond is a win-win option. The cut can be different - marquise, princess, heart, pear, square, etc. In addition to the central element, there may be a path of stones.

• Form. Engagement rings are also subject to fashion changes. At different times, both thin headbands with a solitaire stone and massive jewelry with a scattering of stones were popular. When choosing a shape, it is better to rely on the preferences of the bride, taking a closer look at what rings are already in her jewelry box.

BizMagazine.ru

In the sale of jewelry, one of the key roles is played by their correct presentation in the window. This is an expensive product, a luxury item that is bought as a gift for significant dates or special events. Therefore, the spectacular appearance of the product and a beautifully designed display are of great importance.

So, let's look at the basic rules for displaying jewelry in a store:

1. The store must have good lighting so that the buyer can clearly see the jewelry. The light should be diffused and cold, not blind the eyes of visitors and at the same time illuminate the display case well.

Since the decorations are small in size, it is important that the buyer can see them. To do this, you need to correctly calculate the height and depth of the counter.

The height should be at the elbow level of a person of average height, and the depth of the display case should be approximately 50 cm.

1. In order not to mislead the buyer, it is necessary to place jewelry with precious and non-precious stones on different counters. The same rule applies to products made of gold, silver and platinum. Each display must have a sign with the name of the stone, metal and type of jewelry. Costume jewelry should be placed separately from items made of precious metals.

1. Price tags should not cover the product itself. So that they do not interfere, they can be removed. In this case, a price tag should be placed next to each decoration.

It is important to choose the right stands and presentations for jewelry, taking into account their size. Tall stands should be placed at the back of the counter, and lower and flat ones should be placed closer to the buyer.

This will provide a good overview of all products.

1. Decorations should look bright and impressive. To do this, it is best to use a contrasting backing in black or any dark color.

1. Chains should be divided into groups depending on the length and type of weaving.

1. The rings must be placed on the tablets in size within each group. Rings with large stones should be placed on separate presentations.

1. New products and kits should be located on separate stands. The presentation of the set should be in the form of a triangle: a tall product (chain, necklace) should be in the center of the composition and slightly in depth, smaller and lower elements (earrings, rings, brooches, bracelets) on the sides and closer to the buyer.

1. And, of course, every successful jewelry store should have a mirror so that customers can try on the jewelry they like.

Guided by these simple rules, you can create your own unique showcase that will attract customers.

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What signs are associated with an engagement ring?

There are many superstitions associated with the engagement ring:

• You cannot buy jewelry with certain types of stones. For example, pearls, which can cause tears and sadness, opal, which attracts misfortune to the family, black stones, which bring negativity into relationships.
• During a leap year, the groom should not give the ring at the bride's house. It is better to propose in a restaurant or any other romantic place.
• In Rus', girls spoke a ring, asking the morning sun for endless love.
• The bride must wear the engagement ring until the wedding ceremony. If you remove it or drop it, there will be trouble.

Engagement of newlyweds: folk signs and customs

“A wedding at home means joy at home,” they said in the old days, and many signs were associated with this event, which testified to the birth of a new family. They had to be followed especially strictly if the wedding took place on a leap year, otherwise family life would not work out. You shouldn’t neglect them now, so that the young people don’t have any problems or disagreements, and the marriage is strong, for life.

• It was considered a bad omen to send matchmakers during a leap year - the newlyweds would quarrel before the wedding. It is best to make do with an agreement, that is, the parents of the newlyweds should meet outside their apartments (restaurant, cafe, etc.) and discuss the upcoming celebration. But before leaving the house, the groom’s parents must say: “We are starting a conspiracy, we are preventing the wedding, we will get the bride, we will not refuse.”
• During a leap year, the wedding cannot be scheduled for the 29th of any month, otherwise the newlyweds will not have children. If you still have to celebrate on the 29th and cannot reschedule, you need to stand facing the church at dawn 3 days before the wedding and say: “O God, extend our family, bless the marriage in a leap year.” If a bride or groom holds a bachelorette or bachelor party in their home during a leap year, the marriage will break up in the first year. It's better to do this outside the house. If this doesn’t work out, then you need to hang 3 bells in the house before friends arrive. It’s better to do this above the front door so that everyone entering touches at least one of them. While hanging the bells, say: “Ring, ring, ring, drive the bad thing out. A bad omen will not come true, it will remain good.”
• Before the wedding, the bride needs to count the buttons on her dress. Even - the husband will be faithful to her all his life, odd - he will go for walks. But the bride has nothing to fear if, having counted an odd number, she sews another small button on the wrong side of the dress and says, “I sew the button, I attach the groom to myself, I conjure him for loyalty.”
• To prevent the newlyweds from being jinxed at the wedding and from spoiling their family happiness, and this happens especially often during a leap year, you need to sew a small white piece of fabric with three embroidered red crosses on the wrong side of the newlyweds’ outfits. The witness should embroider them with the words: “If the enemy harbors evil, the cross will protect.”
• If the godparents of both the bride and groom are present at the wedding, such a couple will live in love and harmony. But if one of the godparents is not with them on this day, the life of the young may not be very successful. To prevent this from happening, it is worth appointing any of the guests instead of the absent godfather or godmother. Bring him to the newlyweds and say, so to speak: “He is appointed godfather (godmother) not for eternity, but at the wedding crown, accepted by the world.”
• To prevent a childless marriage, the mother-in-law and mother-in-law must put coins under the wedding loaf and say: “Respect for the young, continuation of the family.” As many coins under the loaf, so many children in our house.”
• If at a wedding the bride or groom happens to change their shoes for any reason, the newlyweds may have problems financially. You can avoid this with the help of the following conspiracy: “I change my shoes, I call for prosperity. I’m calling you to move into new shoes, don’t hang around with old ones.” You need to say it while changing your shoes. In this case, the old pair of shoes cannot be worn and must be thrown away.
• If you put a banknote under the plates of the young people, then they will live in abundance all their lives. A witness must do this, saying the following: “The young family has a profit in the house, a full cup of life and butter in the porridge.”
• There should be no knives in front of the newlyweds at the wedding table, otherwise they will quarrel all their lives. If, by mistake, they were nevertheless placed in front of the newlyweds, the groom must remove them with the following words: “The knives are sharp, but we are fast, they should be dull, but we should not scold.”
• To prevent the husband from drinking in the future, the bride should throw one grape or any berry into the first glass of champagne raised by the groom at the wedding with the words (you can say them to yourself): “Every drink has its own measure, but my faith is in you, I shouldn’t drink.” get drunk, stay sober.”
• The newlyweds will never know the need if they leave one bill given to them at the wedding and put it in the family wallet with the words: “A wedding gift is more valuable than any other, it will go forward - it will bring prosperity, not just for a day, but for many years.” " You cannot spend this money under any circumstances.
• The key to a happy family life for many years will be a towel from under a wedding loaf, if it is carefully stored and such a ritual is performed. Every year on the wedding day it must be spread out and fresh baked goods placed on it. It is better if it is made by the hands of the wife. The spouse should light 2 candles nearby and say: “They keep our home alive with bread and fire, we are ordered to be happy on this day, and in this year, and for many years to come.”
• If the wife brings the wedding veil, carefully kept from the wedding, to her belly as soon as she learns about the conception of the child, then the baby will be born healthy and will be happy in life. At the same time, the expectant mother should say: “A new life is born, protected by the family, shielded from troubles with a veil. Baby, be born, be blessed with a good fortune.”

Are engagement rings given to men?

Historically, wearing an engagement ring has been the preserve of women. But modern brides can break this stereotype. If the lover does not dare to offer his hand and heart, the girl can do it for him. The most important thing is that a man should not be against such a gift.

When choosing a ring for the groom, it is better to adhere to several rules:

• strict and laconic design:
• minimum number of decorative elements;
• if a stone is expected, it should be small.

The main symbol of marriage - subtleties and traditions

Almost 5 thousand years have passed since the time when in Ancient Egypt the groom put the first wedding ring on the bride's ring finger. Why the nameless one? This choice is not accidental and is associated with the beliefs of the Egyptians and Romans. They firmly believed that it was along this finger that the “vein of love” passed, going to the very heart. The round shape of the ring was considered a symbol of the infinity of feelings, and the inner hole was a kind of portal that passed energy to the girl’s heart.

Is it necessary to buy a diamond engagement ring?

The tradition of presenting engagement rings with diamonds developed thanks to a successful marketing move by the American corporation De Beers, which was involved in the mining, processing and sale of diamonds. At the end of the 19th century, large deposits were found in South Africa, and a real diamond rush began. The number of offers on the market has increased, and diamonds have become cheaper.

The company's owners decided to motivate Americans to buy diamond jewelry. For this purpose, a beautiful legend was invented about engagement rings with these stones, surrounded by a romantic aura. Since then, the tradition has become firmly rooted in society.

Nowadays, an engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that can be set with any stone. But if the groom does not know the bride’s preferences, it is better to opt for diamonds. You should not consider the jewelry to be banal - you can always choose a ring of an unusual shape, which will differ from the standard options.

Wedding stylist

Saitova Kristina

First of all, you should decide on the metal from which the jewelry will be made. To avoid wondering which wedding ring is best to choose, you should first decide on the type of metal.

• Yellow gold. This is a timeless classic that is affordable and boasts a representative look. Most wedding rings are made from this metal, so the choice is widest. On sale you can find jewelry of two types of hallmarks - 585 and 750, they do not look different at all, but the latter are more expensive and are prone to deformation.
• Red gold. This is a metal of the highest standard; it looks much richer than its “yellow brother”. The disadvantage of this material is its excessive plasticity, which is why, if manufactured poorly, it can lose its original shape. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to choose products with a thickness of more than 2 mm and a width of more than 4 mm.
• Pink gold. It is a cheaper metal compared to yellow because copper is added to it. This combination creates an interesting color that may suit some skin tones better than regular gold.
• White gold. This option will appeal to those who do not like gold color, preferring silver. The alloy of gold and palladium determines the shade of the jewelry. This option is affordable, but may seem like a cheap model to others.
• Platinum. This precious metal is twice as expensive as regular gold, but this only makes sense for the owner of the jewelry, since many people around will mistake the expensive jewelry for silver or even aluminum.
• Silver. This is a budget option that may appeal to those who, due to some belief, categorically do not accept gold jewelry. Wedding rings are made from silver much less often than from other metals, since it is easily deformed and requires regular cleaning.

Once the appropriate metal for jewelry has been determined, the range of suitable models can also be narrowed down by design. Future newlyweds can choose one of the following options.

Classic. Such rings are most often smooth, round and glossy, but sometimes flat matte models are also found. This is a strict and elegant option for those who honor traditions, as well as for those who are limited in finances.

Non-standard shape. Creative individuals often choose unusual wedding rings in the form of a crown or curly branches with leaves, models with an angular outer edge or an interesting relief.

With precious stones

Such options immediately attract attention, look expensive and tasteful. Most often they are made with one, two or three stones, but there are also scatterings all over the rim

The downside is that it will be difficult to change the ring size later if your fingers get fatter with age.

Engraved. There are ready-made options with general phrases, for example, “I love you,” but you can apply any words or images to the surface of the ring after purchase. This option is becoming more and more common, because in this way newlyweds want to perpetuate phrases that are symbolic for them.

Pairs. These are rings made in the same style, but with different details that complement each other. For example, one ring may have a lock and the other a key.

Stylistics. Rings can be made in accordance with the style of the celebration. For example, in Greek, Slavic or any other style.

Girls face a more difficult choice, since all models sit differently in practice. Thin rings no more than 3 mm wide are suitable for long and thin fingers, but sometimes massive jewelry looks better. If your fingers are long and full, you should choose a model with a width of 7-8 mm

Those with small, neat fingers should pay attention to rings with a width of up to 4 mm, and options in the range of 4-6 mm are suitable for medium proportions.

Celebrity Engagement Rings

Celebrities spend incredible amounts of money on engagement rings because it is part of their image and reputation. A few of the most iconic pieces:

• Grace Kelly's ring received from Prince Rainier III of Monaco. This is a white gold engagement ring with a 10.5 carat emerald cut diamond. Cost: $4.3 million.

• Ring given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor. The 33-carat diamond jewelry sold for $8.8 million after Taylor's death.

• The jewelry that Jay Z gave to Beyoncé. Made from platinum and set with an 18-carat diamond. This engagement ring is worth over $5 million.

• Mariah Carey's ring, presented by Australian billionaire James Packer. A 35-carat diamond worth $10 million.

• Kate Middleton became the owner of a more modest piece of jewelry that previously belonged to Princess Diana. This engagement ring is made of white gold, featuring a 12 carat sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.

What you need to know when buying an engagement ring

• A practical engagement ring is jewelry made of platinum or 585 gold, since they are less susceptible to mechanical damage. 18k rings have a higher gold content but are softer - a good option for engagement jewelry if it won't be worn all the time.
• The weight of diamonds is measured in carats. One carat is a fifth of a gram. Small diamonds weigh up to 0.29 carats, medium ones - from 0.3 to 0.99 carats, large ones - 1 carat or more.
• The clarity of a diamond depends on the presence of foreign inclusions. Most often they are invisible to the naked eye, but are reflected in the cost of the stone. The clarity of small diamonds is rated on a scale from 1 to 9, while large diamonds are graded on a scale of 1 to 12.
• Most diamonds are colorless, but some are yellow, pink, red or blue.
• Expensive rings with large diamonds are sold with accompanying documents indicating the place of production, shape, size, proportions, weight, color, clarity, and cut quality.

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